Families visiting the Portage Strack & Van Til location over the last month might have noticed a colorful new set of signs and posters scattered throughout the store or the stack of scavenger hunt lists set out near the entrance. They might have even found Ernie the Gnome, a tiny fellow lost in the aisles.
All of those new sights are a part of Strack & Van Til’s new Talking is Teaching In-Store Learning Adventure. The Porter County Community Foundation, First Things First Porter County, and Strack & Van Til crafted the scavenger hunt, with additional funding from United Way Northwest Indiana. The adventure leads children throughout the store on a search for different fruits, vegetables, and other items as decals and signs offer parents and caregivers a chance to talk with their kids about what they eat, the shopping experience and more.
“We were excited to explore this opportunity and see how we could educate children and make the shopping experience more fun,” said Jeff Strack, president and CEO of Strack & Van Til. “It’s always exciting when we can help out our community in whatever form or fashion. Helping children learn and really engaging families to make a positive impact in children’s development at a young age is important, and it’s cool to see how we can do that with a grocery store.”
A study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics showed that nearly 60% of American children start their education a step behind compared to other students in terms of language, math, and social skills. Talking is Teaching, a national initiative created by the Too Small to Fail Foundation, aims to eliminate that gap by creating everyday opportunities for children to learn during the first years of life, where brains are commonly described as “absorbing information like a sponge.”
“Really simple actions like talking, reading, and singing help build the brain,” said Miya Fieleke, senior program associate for the Too Small to Fail Foundation. “It’s been a privilege to work with First Things First, and I also want to thank the staff of Strack & Van Til who have shown a deep commitment towards supporting families. What we see here today is phenomenal, and that commitment and investment cannot be understated.”
The In-Store Learning Adventure is the first Talking is Teaching program in all of Indiana, and First Things First Porter County knew at the outset that Strack & Van Til made for a perfect partner in the pioneering endeavor.
“This effort is about getting the message out to families in places that they already are naturally,” said Laura Green, outreach coordinator for First Things First Porter County. “Strack & Van Til is where our families are going all the time, every day. Sometimes grocery shopping isn’t the easiest task to do with children in tow, so it’s nice to have these prompts that can support families in their everyday routines.”
Bill Higbie, president and CEO of the Porter County Community Foundation, praised the work done by the partnership.
“You can’t help but come in here and smile and say that this is a great place to bring our kids,” Higbie said. “We really appreciate Strack & Van Til partnering with us in creating these really unique learning opportunities, powerful opportunities.”
Mike Mulle, Portage store director for Strack & Van TIl, said that they are already receiving positive feedback from families undertaking the scavenger hunt.
“For us, it’s just so exciting to see these kids running around,” he said. “When they come up to the service center with their completed scavenger sheet, or they find Ernie the Gnome, it’s heartwarming.”
To learn more about Strack & Van Til, visit strackandvantil.com. For more information on First Things First Porter County, check out www.firstthingspc.org, and to learn more about Talking is Teaching see www.talkingisteachingtulsa.com.
